He did not know how he had not noted Emil’s familiar colours, but his mind had been elsewhere, consumed by the chaos of the battlefield. He had to put an end to this, he couldn’t cause any more suffering. He had to destroy these monsters before they hurt more people, before he hurt more people. They were the result of his mistakes and he had to make amends… no matter what the cost.
Emil’s sudden pleads broke through his thoughts, desperation capturing his attention where little else might have pulled him from the battlefield. He could hear Emil’s words and yet could not make sense of them. He knew his friend’s affinity with monsters, knew that the other counted among his friends some who were not human, but this was not the same.
Emil didn’t understand, these were not simply any monster. They were aggressive, they hated and destroyed without reason just as he once had, just as he had wanted them to. They were twisted and suffering because he and Lambda had been the very same when creating them. These monsters were the mark of his mistakes and he could not let them hurt any more people. Too many already suffered at his hand!
“I cannot stand down,” Richard answered. “I cannot let more people get hurt in this onslaught. These creatures are not like most monsters in these lands, they will not cease attacking until they are driven back. These are my knights, my people, it is my duty to protect them. I cannot let them get hurt!” Traces of desperation escaped into Richard’s voice despite his attempts to tame it.
Too many times had moments such as this haunted his nightmares.
But he was not ignorant of Emil’s pleads, words that wrapped around and squeezed a heart already suffocating in his own fears. He wanted to help his friend, wanted to give him the chance he wanted, but the risk was too great… his duty came before anything else, even if it meant Emil would hate him for it.
“I will take some of the men and help move the injured civilians to safety,” Richard answered. “I cannot order the remaining knights back or the monsters risk attacking the capital. You are free to try what you wish, but please do not underestimate these creatures. If they are still attacking once the innocent are out of harm’s way, we will have to act.”
“Please Emil… be careful. I made a promise that no one else would be hurt by these monsters. I cannot let anyone else suffer for my mistakes.”
Emil’s eyes grew wide, worry etched upon his face. Fear, pain clinging the edges of his irises. ( they wouldn’t know ) His fingers tightened around Richards wrist. “Just…y-you have to…” The pain that emanated from these creatures. He knew they were different, he could feel that they were different. The words were stricken with hatred for humanity, despising the whatever pain that had caused them. His head lowered, flinching, his fingers loosening before falling to his side.
So determined was Richard, to stop these carless deaths, that he could not see. His head turned, looking at the creature several paces away. He had to … then, he had to. Before anything bad happened.
‘ so much grating lies. ‘
‘ awful. vile. treacherous ‘
‘ everyone must die. ‘
